Portland Visit

Portland visit by dlittlegarden featuring Rebecca Taylor

rock opera

Saw the Decemberists last night at Radio City Music hall with some dear friends.

They've come a long way since I'd first seen them at Showbox in Seattle,

playing a show on borrowed instruments

after their UHaul was broken in to and all their equipment was stolen.

They're still just as enjoyable and quirky as before, though I can't really say that for the audience of frat boys at Radio City....

just so you know

I've found the first coffee shop in my nabe to serve Stumptown coffee! And they offer whole beans, too. :)

caffeine

All it takes is a little misty rain and some Saturday morning coffee and I'm transported back to the northwest. Cinder and I walked this morning before the weather turned. There a ton of hand-lettered signs in my neighborhood. I took a picture of one today.



Nirvana and Mudhoney are on heavy rotation this afternoon while I pull items from my stash to put up in the shop.

Snapshots from my visit to Portland

SwoC: Days 5-9

I've just returned to Brooklyn from Portland, and feel very satisfied. I had an amazing time visiting with my family and friends, I successfully kicked back and unwound, I thrifted some amazing items, and I kept to my SwoC pledge in spite of the temptations. In the remaining 4 days of my trip to Portland, my sister and I visited one more thrift store: my favorite Salvation Army. This time, I had some terrific luck in the shop department, finding some cute 70s woven sandals that I will likely add to my etsy shop since I have a similar pair, some perfectly broken-in army boots, pristine deerskin moccasins, and an interesting pair of deadstock slip-on canvas shoes. I also had lots of luck in the skirt department, pulling possibly my favorite thrift item of the trip- a cotton madras full skirt with navy buttons down the front and hidden seam pockets. I went shopping with my mom and sister, and in spite of finding an adorable bubble sleeved green linen dress, I refrained from buying. My mom even offered the tempting thought that it wouldn't count against my SwoC pledge if she were to buy the dress for me! I held strong, and I'm happy I did.

Tomorrow I'll try to get all of my photos in order and post some of the non-shopping related content from my trip. I'm still chuckling about all the great moments I had with Lil'MC, who is now a little over a year old and the best natured person I've ever encountered. He has such a strong personality, and in these months before he finds his words, his expressive face is working overtime.

To my family and friends in Oregon: Thank you so much for spending time with me this week! I had a great time and can't wait to come back to visit again.

SwoC: Days 3 and 4

I'm staying at my parents' house in Portland, Oregon now, and the loophole I left for myself to thrift shop has come in veeeery handy in the last two days.

above: my loot from Goodwill
On Sunday, my sister and I decided we would head to just one thrift store while my nephew was being watched by our mom. We decided to hit our favorite Goodwill at a *secret location* just outside Portland city limits. Man, did we score! I think a lot of the times I'm super successful thrifting, it's all about my attitude when I step through the door. This time, I didn't set my expectations too high- it was the weekend, mid-day, and I had all week to find some good stuff. Plus, we were only going to that one store instead of the 2 or 3 that we normally hit in one day, so I didn't feel rushed. Right out of the gate, we found some adorable items in the jewelry case: for me a wooden necklace with elephants, zebras and giraffes on it and a 70s patinaed gold necklace with a pendant of a tiny rose trapped in yellowed resin. My sister sorted throught the brooches and quickly pulled out an adorable old silver pin with a fork and spoon on it and a gold heart and arrow pin. The latter two items we ended up trading each other before checkout. Next we moved on to the women's blouses and pulled some great stuff. We went through the place systematically and were both completely pleased with our finds. Standing at checkout and looking at our distinct piles, our two styles were extremely evident. My sister, who is much more into pastels and charming shabby chic style, had stacks of pretty, faded cotton prints and cute kitchenwares. I think my vintage style is a bit more bold, and this was evident by looking at my stack of red handkerchief prints, lime green and brown striped cotton fabric, and navy blue gingham. I did end up buying some things that may be a bit too hip for me to pull off, but I just couldn't resist. I figure, if I end up not wearing it I can always put it in my etsy shop.

above: thrifted vintage shoes and

What I Wore May 25

First thing in the morning yesterday, my sister and I carried out our plan to shop the Memorial Day Sale at Value Village, when everything is 50% off. Again, we made out like bandits! This time, I had my eye out for items to put in my etsy store, dreams of a super-fabulous vintage shop growing in my head. While my sister headed straight for the ceramicware, I shot off towards the far wall, lined with scarves and fur collars. Among my loot, I found a wonderful wool picnic blanket in mustard and brown buffalo plaid, a mens classic wool tartan Pendelton jacket, and some delicate voile puffy sleeved girls' blouses.

above: What I Wore May 26

So, for two days straight, and not very far into my quest to not buy new clothes for a month, I've succeeded in buying a closetful of clothes! But for the purposes of my SwoC month, I'm still doing well. I supported two local charity shops, bought old clothes that had been worn and discarded by their previous wearer, and everything was neatly tossed into one large plastic bag (not wrapped in layers of elegant tissue paper and bubble wrap and shipped across the world to me).

SwoC: Day 2

above:
plane reading and
travel-ready clothes

Later today I'll be flying to Portland to visit for a week. I'm looking forward to the slower pace of the northwest for a little while. I'm also really looking forward to hitting some thrift stores with my sis.... I mentioned this in the comments of one of my Wardrobe Remix pictures, but I haven't disclosed it here and I think I ought to before I get called out-- I purposely worded my pledge to exclude thrift shopping because I knew I'd be going to Oregon during my SwoC month. Also, I feel like thrifting doesn't really count towards the kind of clothing consumerism I'm avoiding this month because it is the reusing of old, unwanted clothes as opposed to supporting the "throw away fashion" that H&M, Forever 21, Zara, etc. dish out. Anyway, I'm allowing it- in moderation.

My SwoC project, along with packing for my trip, have brought out some silly fashion creativity in me. Yesterday, as I was carefully paring-down my list of items to pack, I started throwing on random combinations of the clothes edited out of the travel bag. Below is one oddball result. I'm wearing a racer back tank top upside-down as a hood/cowl thing over a knitted babydoll dress and pencil skirt and leggings. I doubt I'd ever wear this combination in public, but I like that I'm starting to look at different ways to use the clothes I have in my closet. (And I am oddly attracted the the upside-down racer tank- expect to see me wearing this some way, some time.)

above:
messing around with clothes-
Rogan for Target organic cotton racer back tank in yellow leopard burnout
?? cotton knit sweater dress in navy
?? fatigue green pencil skirt
H&M sheer black leggings

Christmas 2007 Part I

I returned to New York this morning via a red eye flight out of Portland. I can't believe that was a week I just spent there! It wasn't nearly enough time to catch up with family and friends.



I'm happy to report that my Pepere is doing AMAZINGLY well! I was so happy to finally join the rest of my family and support him in person at the hospital. (These first two pictures were taken on the way down to visit him.) The first time I walked into his room, he even had the scarf I made him draped over him. He's just as sharp and funny as he's always been, and the recovery will continue, I'm sure. He is so strong.



Now that I'm back, I can start posting some of the knitted gift reveals! I gave my family their gifts a bit early so I could see them open them in person. One gift that was knitted while there, though, I'll post right now. It wasn't actually planned out, and it was such a quick knit, it would feel wrong to give it it's own post.



It is certainly worth sharing here, though, thanks to the adorable model: Mr. Lil' MC! I knitted him a chunky red elf hat one night out of Lion Brand Wool Ease Chunky. Agh! Sooo cute! He truly is elfin-like- always cheerful.



More holiday gift knits coming soon!

At long last

A whopping 2 full weeks after returning from my visit to Portland, I'm finally posting. Part of the delay is my fault- exhaustion from work around the apartment and with the dog, and part of it is Time Warner cable's fault- our service had been out since May 14 due to a hurricane-like down draft (climate change, anyone?) and then several fruitlless attempts for their service people to fix the problem. Anyway, I'm wired now!


My visit back home was fantastic. The weather was absolutely gorgeous. I'd actually forgotten how completely green and clean the northwest is. I looked around with wonder and saw that there wasn't a SINGLE plastic bag stuck in a tree!

I spent some really great time with my sister, the newly minted mother, and the rest of my family and friends in the area. I had a quality catch-up with my good friend SH in Seattle, old college buds Er and A, my cousin and his girlfriend who live in Portland, my amazing grandparents, and with my geriatric cat, Libby, who's spending retirement "on the farm" (my parents house, which is not on a farm).

Most important, though, I met my adorable nephew for the first time! Lil MC and I spent lots of my visit together, just getting to know one another.

We danced barefoot together on the grass

We smelled roses in my parents' backyard

We drove to Salem together to introduce Lil MC to his great grandparents

We (reluctantly) tried on hand-knitted head gear

We smiled and stared at Lil MC's Pepere

We stared at Uncle T

We shocked everyone by doing push-ups on Dad's chest!

We smiled and silently laughed

and we took LOTS of pictures!

Some other images from my trip:


Er and I met up for a late lunch and walk around Hawthorne St., of course visiting the Powell's there.


A and I (freshman year roommates) had brunch at the Bread and Ink and I bought some recycled silk sari yarn


I TOTALLY took advantage of my parents' peaceful, spacious yards and patio, sitting outside to read magazines, sip coffee, and take pictures of my feet.

Sigh. It was an terrific time. Action-packed, yes, but still restorative. I can't wait to go back.